Improvement in clamps for planking floors



UNITED STATES PATENT EETCE.

H. B. GREGG, OF OAMDEN, OHIO, ASSIGrNOR TO HIMSELF AND JAMES GABEL, OFSAME PLACE.

IMPROVEMENT IN CLAMPS FOR PLANKING FLOORS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 5S,l67, dated September1S, 1866.

To all whom it may concern:

` Be it known that I, II. B. GREGG, of Gamden, Preble county, in theState of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inFlooring-Presses; and I hereby declare that the following is a true,full, and exact description of the same, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings and to the letters ot' reference marked thereon.

Figure l represents a side view of my press. Fig. 2 is a plan view ofthe saule when placed in position. Fig. 3 gives a rear view of the clampA.

My press consists of the clamp A, the, bar

VB, and the adjustable press-block O. The

clamp A is provided withthe two jaws c and g, which are designed toembrace the joist firmly when the press is operated. One of the jaws, g,is east solid with the main portion of the clamp A. The other jaw, e, isadjustable, and is constructed with the neck d, which penetrates a slotin clamp A, and is made secure by awedge passing through it. As theslotis oblong the jaw e can be adj usted to suit the thickness of thejoist that may be used.

In order to keep the adjustable jaw e from sliding, the Linder surfaceof clamp A is corrugated, (see Fig. 1,) and the upper surface of the jawe is furnished with two transverse ridges, t, which are made to'tbetween the corrugations in clamp A, and thus keep the jaw c inposition.

In the outer end of jaw g an opening is made to" receive the end of barB, which works on a pivot passing through g. B has an elbow in it, asseen in Fig. 2, and the portion of it that extends toward thepress-block O is parallel with the side of the joist on which clamp A isfitted.

M represents a curved lever, the lower end ot' which is pivoted to barB. The lever M is confined tothe bar Nby a bolt, which acts as itsfulerum, the lower end of bar N being pivoted to press-block O. To theupper end of bar N the pawl fis pivoted, f being designed to act onteeth eut in the upper surface of lever M.

Into the front edge of press-block O a deep groove is cut for thepurpose of receiving a board of proper thickness, so that in operatingthe press-block the edge of the board will come in contact with the edgeof the iioor-r ing. In order to regulate said board a wedge is inserted`behind it to force it out beyond the jaws of pressblock C. y

In the under surface of the press-block O a groove is out, whichreceives the metal guide h. The guide h, which is riveted to bar B,serves to keep the front edge of the lpressblock G parallel with theedge of the iiooring.

For the purpose of regulating the pawl f the metal plate P is provided,and is pivoted at the same point with M, and extends out nearly to theend of M, whereit is supported bya pin in the side of M. Y

The object of plate P is to raise and lower the pawl f at pleasure.

It will be observed that the face of the adj ustable jaw e has severalteeth near its front edge, and the face of jaw g has similar teeth nearits back edge. These teeth are designed to press against the joist whenthe clamp A is a little in twist by the operation of the lever M.

In operating my press you will place the clamp A at the properdistancefroi'n the iiooring, as seen in Fig. 2, and, having adjusted thejaws to one of the joists on which the iiooring rest-s, then pressdownward on the` end of lever M, when the press--bloek will come incontact with the edge of the iiooring and force the joists together,which will be secured by being nailed. The clamp A will Athen be removedto another joist and the same process repeated until the work isfinished.

Having thus described my machine, what I claim, and desire to secure byvLetters Patent, 1sv The clamp A, the bar B, the guide h, thepress-block G, the lever M,thebar N, the pawlf, and the plate l?, thewhole constructed, arranged, and operating as and for the purpose hereindescribed.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I hereby afx my signature in thepresence ot' two witnesses.

H. B. GREGG. Witnesses:

A. STIVER, W. FREEMAN.

